SEMBACH, Germany – U.S. Army Medical Readiness Command, Europe hosted a “Safety Stand Down Day” on Sembach Kaserne October 14. The Medical Readiness Command, Europe headquarters staff, along with members of the 30th Medical Brigade, Public Health Command Europe and Dental Health Command Europe participated in hands-on demonstrations and learned about a variety of safety topics throughout the day.
Local organizations participating in the safety stand down included the Sembach Fire Department and the Federation against Alcohol and Drugs in Vehicles Association.
The event was kicked off by Capt. Ethan Betts, headquarters and headquarters detachment commander for Medical Readiness Command, Europe, who discussed the importance of safety in the workplace, on the road and at home. This was followed by a safety briefing to ensure that the employees were aware of potential safety hazards throughout the day.
Safety stand down events are held routinely across the Army in effort to eliminate fatal and serious injuries to servicemembers and their families. The events also provide leaders an opportunity to talk to their personnel about safety face-to-face.
“This proactive safety training is one-way Medical Readiness Command, Europe acts to prevent work-related fatalities and injuries,” said Charles Lewis, manager of the Medical Readiness Command, Europe Safety Office. “It is also designed to prepare military families for the holiday season, driving to their holiday location, cooking their favorite meal, and the hazards associated with these events.”
Participants in the safety stand down event took part in hands-on activities that included fire prevention, winter vehicle safety, grease fires, winter driving and a turkey frying demonstration.
“While automobile and motorcycle related accidents produce the most injuries annually, home kitchen fires are also near the top when it comes to injuries,” added Lewis. “Statistics show that the home is the most common location for accidents to occur. For example, two-thirds of all home fires start in the kitchen with approximately 480 people dying in kitchen fires annually. In addition, more than 350,000 people are injured just by kitchen knives each year. However, the most common household injuries are burns, fires and lacerations.”
When it comes to safety tips and pointers, Lewis stated that there are some good habits and practices that individuals can take in preventing accidents.
“Having an up-to-date and operational fire extinguisher nearby while cooking and keeping the cooking area clean and organized is recommended,” said Lewis. “You should also provide your family with an emergency action plan and ensure emergency supplies are stored in your family vehicle. Emergency kits should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced regularly. It's also a good idea to keep family and emergency phone numbers, including your auto insurance provider and a towing company number in your phone.”
For those who are stationed in Germany, remember that Germany has very strict laws on the use of proper winter tires on vehicles. While there are no specific set dates to have winter tires on your car, most Germans go by the ‘O to O’ rule - that is from October to Ostern (Easter). And, as of January 2018, newly fabricated winter tires must be marked with a new Alpine symbol (a 3-peak mountain pictogram with a snowflake).
For more safety related tips and information, individuals can visit the Army Combat Readiness Center website: https://safety.army.mil/
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